N.Y. cameraman wins $200,000 police settlement

Phil Datz, left, and his attorney, Robert Balin. Datz sued Suffolk County police after he was arrested following an order to stop videotaping the arrest of a suspect. (credit: Mona Rivera, 1010 WINS)

“This settlement is a victory for the First Amendment and for the public good,” Datz said. “When police arrest journalists just for doing their job, it creates a chilling effect that jeopardizes everyone’s ability to stay informed about important news in their community. Journalists have a duty to cover what the police are doing, and the police should follow the law and respect the First Amendment to ensure they can do that.”